By Alesha Capone
MORE than 550 vacant properties across Brimbank have been declared a fire risk, as Brimbank City Council warns owners to clean up their sites.
At the latest council meeting, it was revealed 552 “notices to comply” had been issued to Brimbank’s vacant property owners whose lands were considered a fire danger.
The council’s general manager of city development Stephen Sully said letters were sent to all vacant landholders in the area every October and November, asking them to “maintain their property to mitigate fire risk during the summer period”.
“The letter is followed by an inspection of all vacant land and if the land is not suitably maintained a notice to comply is issued,” he said.
“This procedure resulted in 3383 fire prevention inspections and the issuing of 552 notices to comply in that period.”
Mr Sully said the council’s compliance department worked to “mitigate fire risks by ensuring that vacant land within the municipality is clear”.
Under law, owners of vacant land must keep grass, weeds and undergrowth trimmed to 150mm all year round.
Property owners also need to ensure terrain is not kept in a “dangerous and unsightly” state detrimental to general amenity, which includes clearing away rubbish and old cars abandoned on the land.
If properties fail to comply with the legal requirements after an inspection, the council can engage a contractor to undertake the work and then bill the landowner.
To make vacant land as safe as possible, owners are advised to keep grass cut, clear away dead undergrowth and fallen branches and ensure access to adequate water supplies.
